AL Hek, M Kharkrang hail role of church in shaping education, society
Shillong, Mar 3: In a bid to steer clear of a growing controversy, the state BJP has disavowed RSS functionary Sunil Deodhar’s recent remarks during the latter’s recent visit to Meghalaya.
In response to an ongoing anti-BJP social media campaign, the state BJP on Tuesday said the RSS leader, whose comments have drawn sharp reactions from many quarters, has nothing to do with the party in Meghalaya.
“We have been compelled to call this press conference urgently to address a malicious campaign that has been unleashed in social media against the BJP Meghalaya using Sunil Deodhar’s unfortunate and meaningless statement as an excuse,” BJP chief spokesperson M Kharkrang told reporters.
“We take this opportunity to make amply clear that Sunil Deodhar has nothing to do with BJP Meghalaya. In fact if you realise not a single BJP leader from anywhere in the country has supported his statement,” he said.
Praising the Christian community, he said, “Rev Thomas Jones gave us a physical shape to our language by creating our script, the church irrespective of denomination set up education institutions that serves even today provide quality education to every nook and corner of the state.”
He added, “Anyone who questions the contribution of the church… only proves himself to be ignorant… and worthy only of contempt.”
Kharkrang said state president Ernest Mawrie and the party’s two MLAs “registered a strong protest with our central leadership, who agreed that Sunil Deodhar comment are disgusting to say the least.”
He maintained Deodhar “was taken to task by the leadership team of Meghalaya and Central team,” and “by now regrets his thoughtless and tasteless words.”
Citing the prime minister’s Christmas messages on Lord Jesus Christ, Kharkrang said, “We as a party follow the example of our prime minister and condemned the likes of Sunil Deodhar… we will ensure that nothing can be allowed to go against the Christian community in particular and also any other religion.”
He urged the public “not to be swayed by various malicious attempt to malign the image of BJP Meghalaya because we stand as a secular party.”
Reacting on the issue, former minister and BJP MLA AL Hek said, “We condemn the statement given by Sunil Deodhar recently in a village in East Khasi Hills district.”
“We have so many educational institutions. We have so many healthcare institutions where all caste, creed and religion are taking care of all the hospitality care in the hospital but we have never seen single day, single moment that Christians are converting anyone. So the statement of Sunil was very wrong — I really condemned his statement,” he said.
Hek called for respect for religion and people a universal duty and said, “It is our duty and responsibility of every human being. We should not talk anything against any religion, any human being or caste, creed or religion. We must respect all human beings and all religion.”
Hek said Deodhar was no longer a BJP national general secretary and had spent years in the state.
“He has been here many years. That is why he could speak Khasi language. That is all I know. He is from RSS. We cannot deny the fact,” he said.
Hek pointed to Christian‑run missionary schools and colleges saying, “In India… 70‑80% mostly are Hindus studying in Christian schools but there’s not a single case where there is any force conversion to Christianity. We never did anything like that.”
